Traditional owners in Wiluna have native title claims over 50,000 square kilometres recognised

By Sarah TaillierUpdated
Tue 30 Jul 2013, 5:03 PM AEST

Photo

An Aboriginal elder holds a flag. (file)

Simon Fergusson: Getty Images

After a 15 year process, traditional owners near Wiluna in Western Australia's Goldfields have had their native title claims recognised.

Yesterday, the Federal Court formally acknowledged a native title area, spanning almost 50,000 square kilometres in and around Wiluna, 950 kilometres north-east of Perth.

The determination recognises the native title rights and interest of the Indigenous people of the area who are known as the Martu people.

Traditional owner Victor Ashwin, whose family has a pastoral lease at Windidda Station, says he feels a mix of emotions to finally be a native titleholder.

"We sort of feel happy and sort of sad it took this long and most of the old people that lodged that claim first, most of them have passed on, there's only a few left," he said.

"I hope that the Government look at this and think about and look at other claims and sort of do things quicker instead of taking 15, 16 years to get our native title recognised."

Claim lawyer for Wiluna, Mike Allbrook says the recognition is a significant step forward for traditional owners in the area.

"It means that they have a voice and a say in what's going to happen to their country and it means that people come and talk to them about projects and initiatives that effect their country," he said.

"And, it means that they can start working with other stakeholders to manage the country and look after it into the future."

Mr Allbrook says traditional owners are happy to have the claims resolved.

"It means that the Australian community recognises that the rights and interests that the Wiluna mob have from their ancestors are the same as the rights and interest that other people have in land around Australia," he said.